Concussion controversy as Tyrone’s Sean Cavanagh plays on after blow

Tyrone’s Sean Cavanagh remained on the pitch against Monaghan on Saturday night despite suffering from what his manager Mickey Harte termed afterwards as a "slight, mild concussion".

The GAA’s own protocols, published in a document entitled ‘Concussion Management Guidelines 2013-16’ clearly state that any players suspected of a concussive injury should be “removed from play” immediately.

The phrase in question is emphasised by being written in bold, block capitals and underlined.

Cavanagh took a blow to the head just 15 minutes into the Allianz League Division One opener at Healy Park when either the trailing leg or knee of an opponent caught him unintentionally.

Cavanagh, who was central to Tyrone’s strong start at full-forward, was clearly seen holding his head even as he fell to the turf and the Moy player received treatment on the spot for some minutes before play resumed.

“For a while there we didn’t know if he would have to come off or not because he had a slight, mild concussion with a bang above the eye,” said Harte.

Concussion is not as regular an issue in Gaelic games as it is in rugby. Data compiled by the association in 2013 found that only 0.8% of injuries sustained in football were concussive. The percentage in hurling was 0.5%.

Nevertheless, the issue has been dealt with by the GAA’s Medical, Scientific and Welfare Committee even if it stopped short of aping rugby by introducing a ‘concussion sub’ ruling whereby those with suspected cases are removed from the field for assessment.

Tyrone claimed three unanswered points in the wake of Cavanagh’s injury , one of them from the free he earned at the time, but Harte suggested the subsequent twist in momentum may have stemmed from that incident.

“It took the sting out of us because he was going very strong up there. So it did upset us but, look, different excuses and all the rest,” Harte said.

Talk of relegation may seem a little premature after just one round of the league but so tight are the margins that Harte brought up the spectre unprompted as he looked forward to a daunting trip westwards next weekend.

“It’s a home game, two points lost, and going to Mayo (next week) looking for two more doesn’t seem an easy task after that. It never seemed easy before but after this it looks even harder. But it’s one we have to face.

“If we have no points after two games then we all know what we are looking at and its not a pretty place.”